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The Wan brothers created the first Chinese animated film with sound in 1918. It was titled 'The Camel's Dance' (Luo tuo xian wu). Read more

Taiwan authorities have turned down mainland China’s offer of help while accepting Japanese assistance, following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake in the eastern coastal city of Hualian on Tuesday.

Four tourists from mainland China are known to be among the 11 confirmed deaths, while six, including five members of the same family from Beijing, are still missing. Reports suggest that as many as 272 were injured in the accident, reports Chinese news portal Guancha.

When asked why had Taiwan refused Beijing’s offer, Alex Huang, spokesman for the Tsai Ing-wen administration, said (video) that Taiwan does not need external manpower and resources because they have all of these things. As for the reason why it accept Japan’s help, Huang said it had cutting-edge equipment that would make the search for survivors more effective.

A seven-member Japanese team arrived in Hualian on Thursday to assist with the rescue effort.

According to a report by China News, the operation has been interrupted by several strong aftershocks. Two earthquakes, measuring 4 and 4.5 on the Richter scale, hit Hualian on Thursday morning, while a magnitude 5.7 aftershock was reported on Wednesday night.

Relations between Taiwan and mainland China have deteriorated since Taiwanese authorities stalled the applications of 176 additional flights across the Taiwan Strait during Spring Festival Golden Week in January, in order to protest the use of four flight paths by mainland China.